Are we getting good information?

1 John 4:1 – 6

Testing the Spirits

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.

You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them. We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.

I have heard many say that we are not to question God. I agree, but what we should question is if the advice and instruction that we are given is FROM God. False religions and prophets, cults and general denial of The Creator (which is kinda funny because even Satan, himself, acknowledges God’s existence and trembles – James 2:19) So just because someone says that are ”Believers”, we should analyze what others do and say to conclude what they believe. John teaches that we should “test” or question the spirits, regardless of their claim. A conman will not say that he is a conman, but he will try to deceive you into believing that he is the “real McCoy”.

2 John 1: 5 - 11

But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another.  (Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it. For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!  Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting, because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.

John also warns us to not embrace the false teacher either. He is NOT saying to not to talk with them, just don’t be lured into their lie. We should always take every opportunity to display the Love of Christ and do not fall into an arrogant air because of our faith. There have been more bloodshed in the name of God than any other “cause” and I do not think that those “causes” were on the “up and up” History shows that the majority of those crusades were motivated by far less haughty goals than advertised.

So in conclusion, before we adopt a teaching or doctrine, we should question the motive and origin of that teaching (including this one). This “testing” does not mean that it is rejected, only authenticated. It may not make us popular, but we can at least be informed.

Until the next time:

May God Bless You and Yours!!!

Gene